Case Study - Alberta

Question 1

Facts (3)

Answer 1

Lasted for two months = 1st May - 5th July 2016
Costliest natural disaster in Canadian history
Some sources refer to it as the Fort McMurray wildfire

Question 2

Social impacts (3)

Answer 2

No one was killed or injured!
2400 homes and businesses destroyed
90 000 residents had to evacuate

Question 3

Economic impacts (3++)

Answer 3

CAN$9 bn of damage to Fort McMurray (insurance company estimate)
600 work camps were destroyed by the fire
1.2 million barrels of oil were lost per day for 14 days = loss of $1 billion = Global price of oil effected

Question 4

Environmental impacts (3)

Answer 4

600 000 hectares of land was burned
Millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
Habitat loss - 500 species lost their habitats

Question 5

Political impacts (2)

Answer 5

Fuelled debate about possible impacts of climate change + increased vulnerability in the future – fire season may be lengthened by earlier spring melts
Government officials oversaw evacuation programmes and liaised with emergency services

Question 6

Short term responses (4)

Answer 6

On 3rd May a successful mass evacuation of 90 000 residents was ordered
An online registry was created to help evacuees find accommodation
Offers of help were received from the USA, Australia, and Russia
85% of the city of Fort McMurray was saved

Question 7

Long term responses (3)

Answer 7

Evacuees given $1250 for adults by the government = help cover living expenses
On-going mental health and stress support = $18 million spent in the first year
$1000 granted by the Canadian Red Cross to small businesses to encourage local contractors back into work